“I guess we need to take these guys in,” a cannon cocker said. I met Smith's eyes, and he shook his head. Neither of us was much interested in taking the prisoners back to base.

Meanwhile, Chou En-lai said in effect that a Nationalist breakthrough at Ssu-p'ing would imperil the entire communist situation in Manchuria.

I'm a sell-sword. I make my living because I keep my word. Unreliable mercenaries don't get paid.

fading light; fading memory; fading reputation